Georgia's unemployment rate lowest in 8 years

New numbers show the state's unemployment rate is the lowest it's been almost 8 years.

The Georgia Department of Labor says the state's unemployment rate declined to 5.6 percent in November and the Walmart Neighborhood Market on Slappey Boulevard is giving a boost to the economy in Albany.

Nakia Collier is one of nearly 100 employees recently hired at the Walmart Neighborhood Market on North Slappey Boulevard. Collier was without a job since September.

"I had actually gone to the Albany unemployment office and looked around, hadn't had any much luck there,” said Nakia Collier, Fuel Service Supervisor.

3700 jobs were created in the state in November. Collier was hired in that same month after a friend told her about an open position at Walmart.

"That was an amazing feeling because I'm a single parent and being without a job it's a little bit of a struggle,” said Collier. “Unemployment gives you like a $250 check every week which does not make ends meet."

Department of Labor officials say much of the job growth was in the business, construction, education and health services. Overnight Support Manager, Haryl Dabney, says the new Walmart will be good for Albany's economy.

"It's a benefit because they're not paying just minimum wage to people so it's going to stimulate the economy just by giving a better hourly rate,” said Haryl Dabney, Overnight Support Manager.

He also says the store has also been consistent with hiring people in Albany.

"So that's the biggest thing,” said Dabney. “We're taking the people that's not employed in Albany, we're employing them and not taking people from outside communities,100 miles,150 mile radius, bringing them in to fill positions."

The Walmart Neighborhood Market on North Slappey Boulevard is set to open January 20th.

November's unemployment rate of 5.6 percent is down one tenth of a percent from October. The rate was 6.7 percent last November.